The 'North Sea Dash' challenge between Berwick Bandits and Edinburgh Monarchs has been called off. This was due to be held a week on Saturday at Shielfield Park. It has been replaced by an individual event, the Karl Friar Memorial Trophy. Invitations will be sent to Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, Jan Andersen and Ben Shields.
Berwick promoter Peter Waite argued somewhat unconvincingly that the meeting was never a definate engagement. It appeared in the official fixture lists published in the local press and in Speedway Star magazine and appeared to be 'definate'.
It was originally intended to be a triangular event involving Berwick, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The newly installed promotion team at Glasgow pulled out. That left Berwick and Edinburgh involved and it was decided to hold the individual event instead.
Berwick obviously want to give a run out to their Czech heat leader trio and possibly their untried South African reserve especially with the bad weather putting paid to their first scheduled practice session last weekend.
Monarchs also face the losss of next weekend's practice session as the Armadale track is still covered with snow. Even assuming a quick thaw, the track will take some time to dry out.
This means that Monarchs' opening away meeting will now be at Glasgow a week on Sunday.
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